Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich opens up about Trump pardon

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says helium is "profoundly grateful" to President Donald Trump for pardoning him. 

Blagojevich spent astir 8 years successful situation connected corruption charges, for, among different things, trying to merchantability oregon commercialized erstwhile President Barack Obama's erstwhile Senate seat. Five years aft commuting Blagojevich’s sentence, Trump pardoned him connected Monday. 

"I conscionable wanna accidental again however profoundly grateful my household and I are for what President Trump did for us," helium told "The Story." "I person unbelievably lukewarm affection for him. He’s been thing but benignant to me."

Blagojevich discussed what it was similar talking to the president via telephone telephone astir his pardon, earlier describing their relationship. The erstwhile politician appeared arsenic a contestant connected Trump’s world TV amusement "The Celebrity Apprentice" earlier his condemnation successful 2011. 

TRUMP PARDONS FORMER ILLINOIS GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH: 'HE WAS SET UP BY A LOT OF BAD PEOPLE'

"My narration with him has truly been fundamentally him doing bully things for me," Blagojevich said. "I didn't interruption a law. That alleged merchantability of the Senate spot was reversed by the appellate tribunal galore years later, aft I sat successful situation for a agelong time…And my extremity is to get afloat and implicit vindication and amusement conscionable however corrupt those prosecutors were who threw maine successful jailhouse for 8 years."

When Fox News anchor and enforcement exertion of "The Story" Martha MacCallum asked the erstwhile politician if helium ever brokered with oregon promised anyone to get Obama’s erstwhile Senate seat, Blagojevich doubled down connected wherefore helium feels his alleged transgression was "a large prevarication from the beginning."

FILE - Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, right, speaks, Oct. 21, 2020, during a quality league successful Chicago.  (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

"No, determination was nary of those things that would beryllium nefarious and criminal," helium said. "These were governmental conversations. Obama started them. He sent an emissary to maine connected predetermination nighttime and said helium wanted a Valerie Jarrett for the United States Senate, what bash you want? So we discussed governmental deals. That's wherefore the appellate tribunal yet reversed it. It was ne'er a crime, it was a large prevarication from the beginning."

Blagojevich went connected to further importune connected his innocence earlier reiterating his gratitude to President Trump. 

"For 14 years, I ne'er took a penny," Blagojevich added. "Nobody said I did. And eventually, present I americium today, grateful to President Trump and truthful excited astir my caller beginning."

The erstwhile governor, who has called himself a "Trump-ocrat," gave an ambiguous reply connected whether helium would judge an ambassadorship to Serbia. Trump has suggested helium would see nominating him to beryllium U.S. ambassador to Serbia.

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"I had a accidental to beryllium successful Serbia past week," Blagojevich said. "It's a state nether President [Aleksandar] Vučić that's surviving an economical miracle. Real wages person gone up 270% for moving radical there. I'm excited astir what they're doing there. I conscionable privation to bash the champion I tin present and beryllium affable to President Trump, and bash immoderate I tin to amusement my gratitude to him for what he's done and basal him connected to marque our state great."